Here is a news strip, read it carefully and answer the following questions

Villagers oppose sand mining project Santhabommali (Srikakulam): People of more than 20 villages in two mandals of Srikakulam have raised a banner of revolt against the proposed beach sand mining project by a private company and threatened to intensify their agitation if the government does not cancel the project. The sand mining is being taken up extract rich minerals from the area. The villages are located around the forest belt were mining was initiated. (AS1)

i. Do you think the villagers are doing a right thing to agitate? Why?

ii. What resources are the villagers trying to save by their agitation?

iii. Will the villagers be benefitted by the rich minerals extracted from sand?

iv. Why does the private company want to carry out mining in the area?

v. Does the government have any role to play?

vi. How will mining in that piece of land affect people of the area?

i. Yes, the villagers are doing the right thing to agitate against mining activity as mining destroys our environment. They destroy the habitats of plants, animals. Soil also gets destroyed by mining activities. It causes pollution of water and air as various harmful toxic chemicals leak into our surroundings.

ii. Villagers are trying to save our mineral resources, soil, forest, habitats of plants and animals, fresh water resources etc.

iii. Yes they will be benefitted as most people will get employment. Various tools and machinery can be manufactured. Roads will be developed to transport these mineral resources.

iv. To extract rich minerals that will give benefits to the company so the private company wants to carry out mining in this area.

v. Yes, Government plays a vital role. He should give permissions to only those projects who will carry out ecofriendly methods for mining activities without causing any damage to our environment. The government should take proper steps for conserving our resources as well as the habitat of animals, plants as well as villagers living in that area.

vi. Mining causes pollution of soil, water, and air which affect the health of the people living surrounding that area where mining is going on. Dust produced may cause respiratory diseases among the people living in that area.